2006 Volvo XC70 Review
Price Estimate: $837 - $1,345





+41
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Superb seat comfort, variety of safety features, solid construction, strong brakes, excellent snow vehicle, optional rear-facing third-row seat.
Cons
- Not much power for this price range, not as nimble on pavement or as capable off-road as Subaru's Outback, tight legroom in backseat, stability control isn't standard.
What’s new
For 2006, the Volvo XC70 gets a new electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system. The Convenience Package has been beefed up to include power child locks, a holder for sunglasses, rear park assist, tinted rear windows and a split-folding rear seat, and setting information for the optional Four-C adaptive suspension now appears in the driver information menu. Midway through the year Volvo introduces a sailing-inspired Ocean Race Edition model with upgraded trim and a few additional standard features.
Edmunds says
The 2006 Volvo XC70 is a viable alternative for those who need an all-weather wagon but don't want the bulk of an SUV. Subaru Outback offers more power, better handling and true off-road capability for less money.
For sale near West Chicago, IL
7 listings
- $3,299
- 182,876 miles
- Insurance loss reported, 2 owners, personal use only
- Carz R Us (122 mi away)
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Located in Armington, IL
Visit CARZ R US to shop our great deals. You can contact us or call 3**-3**-2*** to schedule your test drive today. Air Conditioning Power Windows Pow...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
Listing Information:
VIN: YV4SZ592261210082
Stock: A1607R
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 02-07-2024 - 247,927 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 17 City / 24 Hwy MPG
- Euroasian Auto (563 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Power Driver Seat
- Multi-Zone Climate C...
- Auto Climate Control
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Located in Wichita, KS
For sale is a 2006 Volvo XC70 AWD Wagon. This is a clean title 2 owner vehicle that shows zero accidents or damage via Carfax and 247k miles. This XC7...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
19 Combined MPG (17 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: YV4SZ592261227965
Stock: 227965
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-02-2025
Vehicle overview
Volvo station wagons been popular with families looking for safe transportation. Over the years, they've come in a wide variety of styles, from basic cloth-upholstered grocery getters to leather-lined luxury haulers to turbocharged sport wagons. But they've all had one thing in common: safety that is engineered into every nook and cranny.
In the mid-1990s, as consumer interest in SUVs was booming, Volvo decided to try and capitalize on buyer desires for family vehicles that didn't look like family vehicles. The company took a standard-issue V70 station wagon, raised the suspension, installed all-wheel drive, fastened some cladding to the body, added foglights and special trim and swiped the name of a high school sport for its new concoction. The Cross Country, as it was known, employed the same winning philosophy as the Subaru Outback. Turn a car into an SUV and buyers would come. Come they did, and soon the Volvo Cross Country was accounting for half of all V70 sales.
When the V70 was redesigned for 2001, so was the Cross Country. Designers tried to make it into a more serious SUV, adopting a masked front fascia and sturdy-looking wheels to impart a rough-and-tumble image. Inside, however, were traditionally comfortable leather seats and all of the safety and luxury goodies for which Volvo has become known. The Cross Country name changed to XC70 in 2003 to keep in line with Volvo's emerging nomenclature for SUV-type vehicles. Now the smaller sibling to the seven-passenger XC90 SUV, the XC70 has effectively been eclipsed by the newer and larger offering. Other than a slight price advantage, we see little reason to buy the 2006 Volvo XC70 instead of the new XC90 unless all you really want is a rugged-looking all-wheel-drive station wagon. Even then, Subaru's Outback is a better bet, as it offers more power, better handling and true off-road capability for less money.
Performance & mpg
Only one engine is offered, a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder. It's rated at 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and sends power to all four wheels in varying degrees, depending on available traction. Under normal conditions, 95 percent of the engine's power is routed to the front wheels for the sake of fuel-efficiency. A five-speed automatic with manual gear selection and a winter mode is the only transmission choice. EPA mileage ratings are 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Safety
The Volvo XC70 comes standard with side-impact airbags for front occupants, side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers, pre-tensioning seatbelts in all five seating positions, a whiplash protection system and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. A traction and stability control system is also an option, along with integrated child booster seats. In government crash tests, the XC70 earned a perfect five stars for its frontal- and side-impact protection.
Driving
With its soft, forgiving suspension, the 2006 Volvo XC70 provides a smooth, isolated ride on all surfaces. Sharp handling isn't in the XC's repertoire, but light steering and a relatively small size make for easy maneuvering. The fully automatic all-wheel-drive system assures surefootedness in inclement weather but the XC70, despite its raised suspension, really isn't rugged enough for off-road adventures. On the move, the turbocharged engine is economical and smooth with adequate power for most situations, but the automatic transmission is sometimes slow on the draw.
Interior
In standard trim, the Volvo XC70 doesn't look or feel particularly luxurious, but leather upholstery is available for those who want a more upscale cabin. The front seats provide excellent comfort, but legroom in the second row is tight. Interior ergonomics are generally good, although a few oddly placed controls take some getting used to. With the rear seats folded down, the XC70 has 71.5 cubic feet of cargo room, slightly less capacity than most midsize SUVs provide but considerably more than most other station wagons.
2006 Volvo XC70 models
The Volvo XC70 is an all-wheel-drive midsize wagon available in one trim level. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, a trip computer, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped tilt-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, a CD stereo, heated front seats and simulated wood trim. Notable options include a DVD-based navigation system, a premium audio system, leather seating, real walnut trim, HID headlights and a sunroof. You can also get a rear-facing third-row seat large enough for two children. The Ocean Race Edition package provides special blue paint, silver exterior moldings, 17-inch wheels, darker-tint rear windows and a moonroof.
Compare 2006 Volvo XC70 trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Illinois
$280/mo for XC70 Base
XC70 Base
vs
$178/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Volvo XC70 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
great, but....
4.88 out of 5 starsBR, 09/05/2010
2006 Volvo XC70 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 5cyl Turbo 5A)
This is my second xc70. The first one (2003) was a lemon; I gave another try to a newer model with a dealer-backed 100k warranty. It's been great, but.... now at 75k, I've had two sets of tie rod issues again, and I'm starting to wonder how many repairs I'll be facing after 100k. The design, comfort and performance of this car are outstanding. In exchange, you will be buying a very … touchy and expensive car to maintain. My advice? If you don't mind spending all your discretionary income on car repairs and $$$$maintenance, and you live near a Volvo dealer, you'll love this car. If you live in big snow country like I do, it's amazing!
Great Vehicle! But...
4 out of 5 starsGabriel Welch, 12/18/2016
2006 Volvo XC70 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 5cyl Turbo 5A)
I purchased my 2006 Volvo XC70 at a local auto auction with 137,000 miles on it. The Volvo was a workhorse! I drive my cars fast and hard and the Volvo took a beating. It was fast and smooth. The Volvo was also extremely comfortable. The car was versatile and fun to drive. The Volvo never left me stranded or let me down! It was very reliable however, It had some finicky electrical issues … from time to time. Parts for the Volvo are never readily available and they are very expensive. If you plan on keeping up on maintenance you're going to need some deep pockets. The frequency and cost of maintenance on a car like this is insane! I owned a Mercedes Benz previous to the Volvo that was less expensive to maintain. But if you take care of the Volvo, it will take care of you.
Excellent Used Car Value!!
5 out of 5 starsAl, 01/08/2017
2006 Volvo XC70 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 5cyl Turbo 5A)
Poor resale value, but plan on keeping it once you buy it!! They seem to be hard to part with and I can't figure why! They're great performing vehicles and God-awful reliable! The aspect that I don't like is that I have to use premium grade fuel! At approximately $.40 per gallon more, I get griped at the tank or the thought of going to the station! The other thing that I dislike is … that the back seat leg room is very minimal.
Great car
5 out of 5 starsJerry, 10/02/2015
2006 Volvo XC70 Volvo Ocean Race Edition 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 5cyl Turbo 5A)
180000 miles love car in snow plenty of power on highway bought new2015 now have 2 xc70s
2006 XC70 Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $36,135 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $280/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 37.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the XC70 include:
- Alarm
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
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